Gravel-machine.



H. T. SYKES.

GRAVEL MACHINE.

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H. T. SYKES= GRAVEL MACHINE.

APPLIOATION PILE'D our. 24, 1912.

1,164,576, Patented July 21, 1914.

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(I By ATTORNEYS In .xnmws PETERS c0. PHom-LnHu. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY T. SYKES, OF NEW LONDON, MISSOURI, ASSIG-NOR 0F ONE-HALF TO A. VICTOR ELY, OF NEW LONDON, MISSOURI.

GRAVEL-MACHINE.

Patented July 21, 1914.

T0 at whom it may, concern:

Be it knownthat I, HENRY T. SYKEs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New London, in the county of Balls and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gravel-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in gravel machines, and has for its object the provision of a machine of the character specified, adapted to remove sand or gravel from a pit or holder, and to deposit it on board cars or other receptacles, so arranged that the device will load and unload itself, and wherein a dumping door is provided so arranged that it will automatically; open when the machine reaches the dumping position, and automatically close as the machine returns to loading position.

, A further object is to provide mechanism for preventing the machine from taking too large a load.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the improved machine in operation; Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine; Fig. 3 is a rear view Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a plan view; and, Fig. 6 is a detail of the latching mechanism for the rear door in a different position to that shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a scraper of substantial U-shape, and constructed of sheet material, the said material being bent to form a bottom 1 and sides 2, the bottom being arched downwardly slightly from side to side, and the sides being approximately parallel. Each side edge of the body is flanged inwardly at its upper end, as shown at 3, and bearings 4 are provided on the upper faces of the said flanges. Axles each consisting of abody 5 and laterally oifset trunnions 6 are provided for supporting the body, each axle having its body journaled in bearings 4, transverse to the body, and wheels 7 are journaled on the spindles.

Each axle is provided at its center with a T 8, and an arm 9 is connected with the lateral branch of each T. A plate 12 is arranged transversely of the body between the flanges 3, and a stub shaft 13 is journaled on the plate at approximately the center thereof I respect to the wheels.

' tion of pipe 19 Application filed October 24, 1912. Serial No. 727,562.

in lugs 14 on the plate. Levers 10 and 11 are connected with the ends of the shaft, and each lever is provided with a latch mechanism 15 for cooperating with a toothed segment 16 on the plate. The lever 10 is connected to the arm 9 of the rear axle by means of a link 17 and the lever 11 is connected to the arm 9 of the front axle by means of the link 18.

By means of the levers, the axles may be oscillated, to raise or lower the body with It will be evident that when the, axles are oscillated to bring the spindles 6 out of the same horizontal plane with the bodies of the axles, the body of the machine will be raised or lowered, depending upon whetherthe said spindles are above or below the level of the body of the axle.

In the present construction, the axles and the spindles are of pipe, connected to each other by means of elbows l9, and a short secand the Ts 8 are arranged on the bodies at plate is connected with the sides of the body, the said plate being arc-shaped and approximately semi-clrcular in form, and having a lateral upwardly extending flange 21 at its curved edge, the-said flange being pivoted to the sides of the body by rivets 22, and an eyebolt 23 is connected with the flange at its center.

The front end of the body is open, and the rear end may be closed by means of the gate 24, hinged at 25 to the sides of the body, the said gate inclining downwardly and outwardly and resting against the bottom of the body when closed. A latch lever 26 is riveted to the outer face of each side of the body at one end, as shown at 27, and the free end of each lever is provided with a downwardly extending lug 28, for engaging the adjacent end of a rod 29 held in bearings 30 on the gate. Each latch lever has connected thereto near the outer end of the lever one end of a link 31, whose other end is pivoted to a lateral arm 32 on the adjacent end of a shaft 33 journaled in bearings 34 at the rear ends of the flanges 3. A lever 35 is connected to one end of the shaft 33,

' for oscillating the shaft to raise or lower the free ends of the latch levers, whereby to release the lugs'28 from the ends of the rod 29. It will be'evident that when the lever 35 the center thereof. A draft p is moved to oscillate the shaft 33, the latch levers 26 will be raised or lowered, depending upon the direction of movement of the lever. When the lever is moved into the position of Fig. 6, the latch levers are lifted at their free end to release the ends of the rod 29, and when the lever is in the position i of Fig. 2, the latch levers are lowered into engagement with the ends of the rod to hold the gate closed.

In operation, the device may be arranged as shown in Fig. l. vAn inclined trackway 86 is supported by suitable scaffolding 37, the lower end being at the point from which it is desired to lift the gravel, andthe upper end being in position where a suitable receptacle, such as for instance a body or a car,

' 23 and the rear end of the machine, as shown in the said figure. The central portion of the rope or cable 42 winds upon the reel 39, and it will be evident that when the reel is rotated, the machine will be moved toward 7 the pulley 38, or toward the pulley 40, de-

the gravel piling pending upon the direction of rotation of the reel. As the device moves toward the pulley 38, the front end of the body will scrape up or load gravel into the said body, against the gate 24. The depth at which the body will load is determined by the position of the levers lO11. lVhen the said levers are in the position of Fig. 2, the body is in its highest position, while when the levers are in the position of Fig. 4, the body is in such position that the bottom thereof is below the surface upon which the wheels move. When the lever 35 is in the position of Fig. 2, the latch levers are locked in closed position, since the links 31 are in alinement with the lever 35. Just as the machine reaches loading position, the said lever 35 is engaged by a stop 43 on the trackway, and the lever is thrown into the position of Fig; 6, lifting the latch levers 26 and releasing the gate. The loadin the body is against the gate 24 on account of the inclined position of the body, and as soon as the gate is released, the material in the body forces the gate open, and the material is dumped from the body into the receiving vessel. The draft plate prevents the front end of the body from loading too deeply, since by the engagement of the said plate with the gravel .or material to be loaded the front end of the scraper will be prevented from sinking too deep, being supportedby the said plate. The latch levers 26 substantially adjacent axle, and means latch levers and the lever 35 insures'that'the rear gate will not be released accidentally.

I claim: H l. A gravel machine, comprising a body U-shaped in cross section and having open ends, axles journaled transversely of 'the ends of the body and at the upper edges of the sides thereof, each axle having laterally offset spindles at its ends, wheels onthe ends of the axles, the body of each axle having a radial arm, a plate ar ranged transversely of the body atjthe'ce'n ter thereof and between the upper edges of the sides, levers pivoted to the plate, a link connecting each lever with lever in adjusted position.

*2. -Agravel machine, comprising a body substantially U -shaped in cross section and having open ends, axles journaled trans the arm of t for holding-ea h versely of the ends of the body and at the l l I upper edgesof the sides thereof, yeach axle having laterally offset spindles at i'ts'ends, wheels on the ends of the axles, andan independent means connected with the body of each axle for oscillating the same to raise and lower the adj acentend of the body with respect to the wheels.

3. A gravel machine comprising ascraper of approximately u shape' in cross'section and having open ends, a gate arranged transversely of the rear end of the scraper for closing said end, the gate-being hinged at its upper edge to the scraper, a rodfar ranged transversely of the gate and lextendingbeyond each end thereof, a resilient latch lever secured to the scraper at each side, each latch lever having theadjacen-t end of the rod and standing normally out of engagement with the said end, and a common moving means for operatlng the latch levers to engage the lugs with the rod ends, said means comprising a shaft journaled transversely of the scraper and having a lateral arm at eachend, a link connecting each arm with the adjacent latch lever, and a lever rigid with the shaft for oscillating the said shaft.

4. A gravel machine, body, a gate hinged at the rear thereof, resilient latch levers'secured to the scraper at each side thereof, each lever having a catch for engaging the gate to hold the same closed, said levers standing normally with the catches out of engagement with the gate, ashaft journaled on'the scraper and having alateral arm at each end, a linkflconnecti'ng each arm with the adjacent latch lever, and means for 0sa lug for engaging comprising a scraper its top to" the body at cillating the lever, the latch levers being engaged With the gate when the links are in alinement with the arms of the shaft.

5. A gravel machine comprising a Wheeled scraper, a gate for closing the rear end oi the scraper, latching means normally out of engagement with the gate for holding the said gate closed, a shaft journaled on the scraper and having radial arms at its ends,

10 links connecting the arms With the gate HENRY T. SY KES.

Witnesses J. W. PITT, A. VICTOR ELY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G. 

